Welcome to the Piano World Piano ForumsOver 2.5 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

Hello! I searched the alto clef on google, which you've probably already done, but found a viola forum where someone has tried to explain the alto clef. This is probably old news to you, but I hope it helps! Here's where I found it: http://www.8notes.com/f/32_22807.asp?y=1&sterm=alto%20clef

Think of the fierce energy concentrated in an acorn! You bury it in the ground, and it explodes into an oak! Bury a sheep, and nothing happens but decay. ~George Bernard Shaw

Its easier when you are going from alto clef and playing on violin. I kinda think up and octave and down however many steps.... by interval too. After you've used it a few times you kind of get to know what note is which. I did it the same way learning bass clef when I began playing piano, memorised B then added a couple more to my memory and finally it becomes automatic.

sweet melody is right. I think the trick to learning alto clef is simply to learn how to read it. Get away from the "transposition" mindset and learn the notes by line and space. Sight read. Practice naming notes. Both are great suggestions.

I've played viola for nearly 30 years now, and I have more trouble communicating in English than I do reading alto clef. But I often have to play out of hymnals where I read the tenor line in bass clef. My approach there is not to think "what would this note be in alto clef?" but rather, that note is a G or A or C.

Best of luck.

David MarsdenSales & MarketingBaldassin PianosFazioli • Schimmel • Estonia • VogelPramberger • Charles Walter • Nordiska--How come people recite at a play and play at a recital?